The Charleston Restaurants We Loved in March

It feels like one of those spots only locals would know about…

Walking into Kultura immediately gave “hidden neighborhood gem” vibes. The service was amazing, the cocktails were unique, and the front-of-house staff was a perfect blend of friendly and funny, with deep knowledge of the menu.

We started with the arroz caldo, which had the perfect bite in each and every spoonful — the soft egg was creamy, the trout roe was salty, and every element complemented one another. We then had the curry and pork asado as (very different, but equally delicious) mains — the roasted fish in the curry was incredibly fresh and the pork was tender and full of flavor. And being able to meet chef Nikko Cagalanan and his kitchen team really enhanced the entire dining experience. The food scene is in Charleston is amazing, and Kultura really stands out.

— Matthew Beattie, Sales Development Representative Manager

I never thought burrata would pair so well…

… with the Asian flavors XO Brasserie imbues it with. Out of the three appetizers we ordered (alongside some potstickers and the build-your-own-bao), the youtiao burrata was my favorite. It was cleverly served with Chinese crullers and topped with serrano chile soy, sesame, scallion, and a honey drizzle — it was delicious and I’ll definitely be ordering it again.

— Stephanie Franchetti, Sr. Specialized Hospitality Coordinator

I had a fantastic meal…

… at Legami recently. We started with the focaccia rosemarino, which was amazing — it came with a whipped ricotta nduja that gave it a beautiful spicy zing to it. Then onto the lobster tatin (also amazing; such a wonderful, complex bite!) the misticanza (a perfectly crisp salad), and the star of the show: the braised octopus. My wife and I love to order octopus every time we see it on a restaurant’s menu, and I’m here to say that Legami made the best freaking octopus I have ever had — I could eat it a thousand times and not get bored with it. For our main, we got the Mediterranean lamb (another complex dish that we loved), and ended on the chocolate mousse — a perfect dessert to put a bow on a beautiful meal.

— Hugh Morris, Hospitality Coordinator

For a nice and intimate date night…

… head to Shiki, which continues to be one of the best sushi spots in Charleston. My wife and I both opted for the $65 sushi and sashimi omakase, which came with a delicious toro sashimi surprise extra.

— Alex Byrd, Senior Account Associate

This is a must stop whenever I’m in Charleston…

I love The Grocery and its stunning open kitchen, its walls that have (what I would call) a library of pickled vegetables — ladder included — and a front-of-house team that always offers a warm welcome like I’m an old friend. James Beard-nominated chef Kevin Johnson built the menu to highlight seasonal, local ingredients and the attention to detail is palpable. At The Grocery, vegetables are not just a side, but the main character — namely the roasted carrots, oyster mushrooms, and smoked beet salad. I also deviated from my regular bistro steak to try the mushroom Bolognese malfadine, and it reaffirmed why I never skip The Grocery when I’m in town.

— Catt Flanagan, Regional Manager, West Coast

If you’re looking for the ideal date night spot…

… Melfi’s is it. The cozy, sophisticated, and swanky atmosphere is as top-notch as the service, and on this recent visit, we opted for a double-date —partially so we could order more food.

We started with the arancini (definitely dip your bread in the extra sauce), the gnudi (which were simultaneously decadent and light), and the prosciutto and burrata (which was perfectly paired with fruit and fig vincotto). For entrées, we shared some pizzas and pastas — the Stretch Armstrong pizza was the star of the show with its bold red sauce base topped with dollops of cool stracciatella cheese, basil, and olive oil. I also finally got to try the Mr. Wally pizza (simply because I refuse to give up the Stretch Armstrong on every visit) — with its vodka sauce base and salami, onion, mushrooms, and pickled Fresno peppers on top, it had a kick to it, which was a nice contrast to the more classic Stretch.

Next up was the pasta course: We had the ribbon-shaped mafalde (another tried-and-true) with pork-and-veal Bolognese and the cacio e pepe, which came with cracked pink and black peppercorns (it was a 10/10 and I need it again ASAP).

I think Melfi’s might have to indefinitely switch from a date night spot to a double-date night spot, just so we can order more off the menu every time. Shoutout to our server for his patience and kindness with our indecisiveness, because it truly is that hard to pick just a select number of things off their menu.

— Lauren Ducci, Sales Development Representative